Healthgrades recently released its rankings for the best hospitals in the U.S. for cardiac surgery, including three in Oregon.

Cardiologists have the opportunity to earn more than $450,000 in nine metropolitan areas of the U.S.

Anthony Fletcher, MD, an interventional cardiologist in Central Arkansas, has been named president of the Association of Black Cardiologists, according to a May 6 report from ABC affiliate KATV.

Lewiston-based Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute added Jared Tobolski, MD, to its cardiology staff.

Here are two cardiology disputes or partnerships that have been terminated since May 3: 

The highest-paid cardiologist in Cleveland earns $735,600, according to Medscape's salary reporter tool, which is much higher than the mean annual wage of $423,250 cardiologists make according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Private-equity backed Cardiovascular Associates of America has partnered with Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Atria Heart. 

Healthgrades recently released its rankings for the best hospitals in the U.S. for cardiac surgery, including three in North Carolina.

Montgomery, Ala.-based Southeastern Cardiology has officially closed its doors for good following ongoing rumors, according to a May 3 report from WSFA. 

Fort Dodge, Iowa-based UnityPoint Health-Trinity Regional Medical Center will terminate an ongoing agreement with MercyOne-Iowa Heart later this year in which Mercy will no longer provide 24/7 interventional cardiology on-call coverage for the medical center, according to a May 1 report from The Daily Freeman-Journal. 

Cardiology Associates of Schenectady in Clifton Park, N.Y., part of St. Peter's Health Partners Medical Associates, added Katherine Riedy-Graves, MD.

Cardiologists have the highest annual salary in Minnesota, earning $523,550 on average, which is significantly higher than the average household income of $109,737 in the state.

Here are three cardiology ASCs that have recently opened, expanded service lines or are in the process of opening, as reported by Becker's in the last month:

The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson appointed Hesham Sadek, MD, PhD, director of the Sarver Heart Center and chief of the division of cardiology.

Jackson County (Miss.) and Ocean Springs, Miss.-based Singing River Health are pushing back on a potential tax break for a new cardiac surgery center in Gautier, Miss., according to an April 29 report from ABC and CBS affiliate WLOX.

Here are five cardiologists Becker's has reported on since March 20:

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua's cardiovascular medicine department added Zhihang Zhang, MD, to its cardiology team.

Most cardiovascular procedures are more cost effective at ASCs than hospital outpatient departments for Medicare patients, according to the Medicare.gov procedure price lookup tool. 

Cardiologists have consistently been among the top-paid specialists in medicine; however, the average earnings among them can vary by more than $300,000 each year, depending on the industry one practices in.

New Jersey cardiologist John Strobeck, MD, has had his medical license revoked by the state after being accused of groping six women during medical exams, according to an April 19 report from NJ.com.